flirt (English)
Where does "flirt" come from?
The English word 'flirt' is first attested in 1553, arising from a merger of Early Modern English forms like 'flirt' meaning 'to flick', 'flurt' meaning 'to mock, jibe, scorn', and 'flirt' or 'flurt' meaning 'a giddy girl'[1]. Its precise origin and relation remain obscure[1], though it connects to various Germanic cognates involving light blows, trickery, or frivolous behavior.
Open questions
- The exact origin of the word and its relation to other forms are obscure. [1]
Full etymology tree
- flirt (English), 'A sudden jerk; a quick throw or cast; a darting motion'
- blend flirt (Early Modern English)
- blend flurt (Early Modern English)
Cognates and doublets
- flard (Dutch)
- jillflirt (English)
- Flittchen (German)
- flærð (Icelandic)
- flerd (Middle English)
- fleard (Old English)
- flird (Scots)
- flärd (Swedish)
Sources
Updated September 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris